Bob Knowlton

INTRODUCTION

Bob Knowlton is a project head for the photon unit at Simmons Laboratories. This case is about Knowlton, Fester an exceptionally intelligent scientist who was newly hired by Knowlton’s boss Jerrold and Knowlton’s project team. Bob Knowlton overbearingly thought about himself and his career path. He neglected everything else around him and kept his emotions to himself, he exhibit the characteristics of an introvert. Simons Fester on the other hand was very combative and offensive in the way that he communicates with the team members except the team’s mathematician Links who is his friend. Even though KnoKnowlton’s inability to address his disintegrating team and his insecurity as a leader lead him to quit his job.

Bob Knowlton Case

Case Analysis on Bob Knowlton

      There are various factors that are contributing to the interpersonal dynamics between Knowlton and Fester in their team. Bob Knowlton is a photon unit project head in charge of team. However, one day Bob felt that his leadership was at stake because a new brilliant scientist, Fester, was hired into the Simmons Laboratories and placed in Bob Knowlton’s work group. Fester demonstrated that his skills as a photon manager were, perhaps better than Bob’s. Jerrold, Bob and Fester’s boss, was extremely impressed with Fester and also was expressing that openly with the team. This made Bob feel intimidated that Fester was very sharp and competent and had solved some old problems, which were considered unsolvable by his team. He felt that Fester was slowly taking over leadership informal control of the team. As a result of this Bob may have lost some self-esteem and the respect of his team members.

      Bob Knowlton’s problem was that he was unable to discuss his opinions, feelings and conflicts with his boss Jerrold and teammates. Although Jerrold and Bob shared an open relationship, Bob did not indicate to Jerrold that he was having a problem and felt threatened by Fester’s brilliance and...